Nokia E90 Communicator

Pros: camera/video recording, keyboard, screen resolution, form factor

Cons: size, hinge mechanism, cost

Summary: Huge I tell you, Huge! Well not really, especially by Nokia Communicator line standards. The Nokia e90 is actually on the smaller side and currently the smallest communicator to date. Now that I have expressed the size as dramatically as possible let me give you the exact dimensions (Dimensions: 132 x 57 x 20 mm, weight: 140cc). Now let me give you the dimensions that actually mean something in the United States (5.20 x 2.24 x .79 inches, weight: 4.73 ounces). So we’ve established the device is big, but lets run down a few key features that set it apart from nearly every other pda/laptop convergence device on the market.

For starters you are dealing with a dual display; QVGA on the outside and the iPhone killing 800×352 pixel inside masterpiece. The first question you can ask someone with the iPhone is whether or not zooming out on a webpage to view its native design is necessary because on the Nokia E90 it is DEFINITELY not. For the size of this device, the screens are truly remarkable and if you need massive real estate to get a desktop like environment say hello to your next mobile device.

Besides the magnificent display you have a Camera: 3,2 megapixels, QCIF. The pictures are quite impressive and nearly as sharp as the Nokia N95 which reins supreme on the mobile camera market with its 5MP Carl Zeiss lens. So this is saying something important, especially when we are dealing with a massive PDA that maintains that type of picture quality. In addition and like the Nokia N95 is the VGA video recording capability with STEREO Sound. Yes, VGA and Stereo sound on a PDA, are you listening HTC? Well stacked with a capable Flash, the Nokia E90 gives you everything you need to leave behind your digital camera and camcorder and have the all in one device that does just about everything, but we aren’t done yet.

How does this QWERTY keyboard compare with other devices on the market? Well think of the Nokia E90 keyboard as your laptop keyboard with the same tactile feedback you expect when hammering out the massive emails to clients and co-workers while your laptop is docked at work. This is the closest application of taking a laptop keyboard and scaling it down for a mobile device and not just in the layout but the physical keys and response. I would give this keyboard a 10/10 and we have the keyboard to beat Sidekick typing speeds.

GPS? yes, its there. Barcode Scanner? yes its there. The one feature than some of us might find missing is FAX capability. Sorry guys, this feature is no longer supported although it has long been a flagship feature of the Nokia Communicator lineup. Some might find this a deal breaker, but if you can find a way to use alternative means such as email and can deal with the previous size of Nokia Communicators your dream device awaits. Well, if of course you have $1000USD laying around the kitchen table waiting to be spent.

http://www.cellfanatic.com/2007/11/15/nokia-e90-return-of-the-jedi